BERMUDA'S new Federation men's hockey team is heading to Virginia Beach this weekend to compete in its first overseas competition.

The team was formed early in the year to represent Bermuda in international competitions and draws on both Bermudian and expatriate players on the island.

Players were selected through competitive trials and the hope is that the elite squad will allow Bermuda to benefit from players with extensive experience from various corners of the globe as well as the best Bermuda has to offer.

Coach Nigel Pichery said he looked at every tournament on the east coast of the US and in the Caribbean before selecting this weekend's JFK Tournament for the team's inaugural outing.

"We chose this one because of it's timing in relation to our preparation and because of the strength of the teams which we will encounter there," the coach said this week. "They should provide a good yardstick for our preparations to let us know how much more work we need to do."

Over the last seven weeks since the team was finalised, member have undergone intensive technical and physical training to prepare.

"The team has been doing lots of technical work on defence and offence as well as trying to learn a new system of play," said Pichery. "We have also been doing lots of work on our short corners as well as a tremendous amount of physical work geared to getting us fitter and stronger."

The team has drawn considerably on the strengths of its coach, a former international player for Trinidad and Tobago.

And the intense training appears to be paying off, the coach said.

"The team has evolved tremendously into a more cohesive unit within the last seven weeks and this bond gets stronger with every practice that we have," Pichery said.

One of the hurdles that had to be overcome in the early stages of training was creating a team spirit among a disparate group of men ? many of whom played Island league hockey for rival teams.

"The camaraderie of the final 26 players is tremendous," said Pichery. "The team affiliations and rivalries have long disappeared. They refer to themselves as 'we' and 'us' and they consider themselves one singular body."

The dedication required for a team of this nature ? when all the players have outside work and family commitments ? is tremendous.

Scheduling was always going to be a challenge.

But Pichery feels comfortable with the group who is travelling to the US on Friday.

"This is the strongest squad possible from those who have committed to the programme," he said. "I have lost a couple of key players through injury and personal commitments though. "I am just grateful to work with players who display a positive and professional approach to the programme and their preparations. There are some young players in the squad and I am sure that they will benefit from playing alongside the more experienced players in a tournament of this calibre."

The team can expect fast paced games at the tournament this weekend.

"We will encounter most of the east coast based teams from the US and Canada and hopefully some other talents also," said Pichery.

"We will probably see the Boston Minutemen, Tri-State Falcons, Zindabad and Mantec from New York and maybe the Toronto Lions from Canada.

"These teams play very fast attacking games with well organised defences.

"The local players have played most of these teams before but a lot of our present players will be getting their first glimpses of these players. It should be a learning experience for all."

While the team is travelling with an eye to win, building experience is a secondary goal.

"We want to do as well as we can but we will take it one step at a time," said Pichery.

"This is the first time that this squad will be playing full games together as well as being away from home.

"A lot can happen in a short space of time but whatever happens out there we must take our roles as ambassadors of Bermuda hockey seriously and portray a positive image for the sport both locally and internationally."

Once the squad returns, the players will bounce right back into training to prepare for the longer Banks Festival in Barbados.

This week-long tournament in August has become a favourite of hockey teams worldwide.

"This tournament has grown to be the best and most attractive tournament on this side of the globe," said Pichery. "The time frame will be about ten weeks of preparation and the squad will again be opened back up to anyone wishing to try out for spaces on the new squad.

"I will again endeavour to have at least two trial games for interested parties.

"After these initial trial games I hope to cut the squad down to the final 26 players and get our preparations on the way."

The players travelling to play for the Federation squad this weekend are: Neil Carroll, Mark Ray, Nigel Deane, Gary Fyfe, Kirk Edmunds, Logan Alexander, John Richmond, David Gutteridge, Keir Savage, Phil McRoberts, Peter Illston, Peter Hughes, Victor Anton-Garcia, Shannon Simons, Kevin Hill, Lloyd Hopkins and Stephen Ludgate. In addition to coach Pichery, the team will be supported by manager Patricia Holder and physical trainer Mark Pettingill.